Young Brakes Put 3 Points On the Table With Brace From Kitchen

A magnificent battling display earnt young Brakes all three points at Bedworth as the fightback continues to climb away from the relegation zone. Ashley Kitchen put Brakes ahead in a first half that Brakes dominated but an equaliser on the hour, with Bedworth shading the second half, set up a tense 30 minutes when Brakes lost their shape and could have lost the game. But with six minutes left on the clock Kitchen smashed home a winner to earn three points that Brakes thoroughly deserved over the 90.

Wright's enforced absence denied Brakes the striking partnership of Lewis and Wright, which brought a Wright hat-trick against Sutton last week, and goals have been sparse this season so this promised to be a dour contest against fellow strugglers. It was a crisp evening, with a wind that intensified during the game, and a reasonable crowd, a fair number from Leamington who thrilled once more to the voice of Boomin' Babs (Kandola) back on the Brakes' bench and ready to do battle with opposition miscreants who damaged our lads.

All the early pressure came from Leamington with some superb one-touch sweeping movements upfield and controlled passing out of defence. A McGarvey blast in the 12th was just wide and the move of the match, in the 15th, saw a delightful move by Brakes, starting in defence and involving just about everyone but with a goal denied at the last. Morgan had to be sharp to gather well in the 22nd but, nearing the half-hour, Brakes had dominated the game with nothing to show.

Aficionados of the youth game know that this is usually the time when I write that the opposition broke away to score, but there's a new spirit in this side and, in the 27th minute, it was Kitchen, who improves with every game, who put Brakes 0-1 in the lead with a strong cross-shot into the corner from fully 20yds.

This used to be another dangerous time but, although Coleman and McGarvey had to be at their best in defence in the 36th and 38th, McKinley, playing in midfield, Mwetaminwa and Lewis all went close as the half drew to an end with one goal a poor reward for an excellent first-half display.

Playing downhill in the second half could have been an advantage but a brisk wind was growing stronger and making it more difficult for Brakes to clear their lines. The Greenbacks were clearly determined to make a fight of it and Brakes were indebted to some solid defence in which Ward and Lockyer stood out. Bhangal continues to improve and Powell's ability to turn defence into attack is proving ever more valuable.

But Bedworth were in the ascendancy this half and although Powell was unlucky with a strong drive in the 58th that was turned round for a corner it was no surprise that Brakes conceded in the 60th after a corner kick was nodded home from a forward who rose high above everyone else, 1-1.

All square then and Bedworth on top; the visiting fans feared the worse. But Kitchen epitomises the new spirit in the camp. And Rellis, coming on for Mwetaminwa in the 83rd, added another engine as Brakes started to claw themselves back into the game. And it paid dividends when Lewis created all kinds of problems in the Bedworth defence and Kitchen moved up at speed to drive home a loose ball from fully 30yds leaving a flailing defender and an out of position 'keeper on the ground, 1-2 in the 84th.

With memories of two late goals conceded against Sutton, Brakes stuck to their task. It was good to see the influential Goodall back for the last few minutes after a long lay-off through injury, thus replacing Lewis with a more defensive player. But I knew Brakes weren't going to give it away when Powell sprinted to prevent the Bedworth 'keeper clearing upfield and nearly scored an unlikely goal as the clearance bounced off him for a goal-kick.

There's still a way to go but if Brakes can get wins in the games at home to Boldmere and Bedworth, again, there must be hope. And the remaining games are all against lower half of the table teams, including at home to Moor Green, Brakes only victory before this one; there must be a good chance of avoiding relegation if they continue to play as they did at Bedworth.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Jamie Coleman; Paramdeep Bhangal; David Ward; James Lockyer; Ashley Kitchen; Andy McKinley [Capt]; Kevin McGarvey; Chris Lewis (Simon Goodall 88); Masango Mwetaminwa (Sean Rellis 83); Ashley Powell

Sub(s) Not Used (2 From 5 Used): Anvinder Thiara; Dale Attwood; Tom Heath

Team News: Joe Wright missed through unavailability, not injury; James Lockyer misses next Monday (Boldmere), school trip; Tom Heath is a goalkeeper, from Solihull, not 16 until July, signed as cover and with a view to next season.